Derbas: Government Will Not Deport Syrian Refugees

Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas stressed that the government will not take “arbitrary measures” against Syrian refugees in Lebanon, reported the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on Monday.

He told the daily: “We will not deport the refugees, but the residency of Syrians who do not fit the refugee status will be reconsidered.”

“There are several Syrian regions where the Syrians can live safely,” he explained.

There has been growing resentment by the Lebanese people against the refugees given the recent developments in the country, most notably the abduction of a number of soldiers and policemen by Islamists from the northeastern town of Arsal in August.

The militants have beheaded two of the captives, sparking angry protests by their families, who have blocked roads and staged demonstrations throughout Lebanon.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam appealed to the people on Sunday to “have faith in the government's handling of the file.”

“The battle will be long and we should not have any illusions that it will end any time soon,” he said in a televised address.

He also called against taking any retaliatory action against Syrians.

In May, the Lebanese authorities took a decision to ban Syrian refugees from heading to their country or lose their status.

Hosting more than 1.1 million Syrians fleeing their country's three-year war, Lebanon is home to the highest number of Syrian refugees in the region, and also to the highest refugee population per capita in the world.

M.T.

H.K.